Rain Smith

Upset over an alleged unpaid $40 debt, a Kingsport woman has been charged with smashing the window of a man's truck outside a Kingsport motel, then threatening him with a Swiss Army knife.

According to a Kingsport police report, the incident occurred 4 a.m. Tuesday at 1704 East Stone Drive. Police say they arrived to find Cheryl Robinette, 51, of 1013 Ransom Lane, standing beside a Dodge Ram with a smashed windshield.

The owner of the truck, a 40-year-old man, was standing outside a room on the second floor. The officer reports having to tell the man and Robinette to quit yelling at one another, eventually threatening Robinette with disorderly conduct if she did not cease.

After calming down, Robinette told police the man had borrowed $40, but never paid her back. The man claimed he had been at the county jail visiting someone that morning, and returned to the motel around 3 a.m. to discover his truck's windshield smashed.

The man told police that Robinette was in the parking lot when he returned. He said he, "was so upset he went straight into his room."

The man claims that a short time later the motel's maintenance man knocked on his door, warning that someone was letting the air out of his tires. The victim allegedly witnessed Robinette in the act, then went outside to confront her.

According to police, Robinette then displayed a Swiss Army knife to the man and said, "Don't' make me do it." In fear of being cut, the man returned to his room and called police.

Police say Robinette admitted to letting air out of the man's tires and telling him, "Don't make me." She said the man pushed her and walked away.

Robinette -- who claimed to have shared a sexual relationship with the victim for several months, but he denied -- was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and vandalism.